John E, That's right. I heat the plug blanks in a toaster oven to about 225 deg. Then I slather on epoxy inside and out. I was using Systems 3 Clear Coat. It is very thin and it penetrates deeply into the blank. After about 15 minutes I just wipe off any excess. There isn't much because nearly all of the epoxy soaks into the wood. If you try it, be sure to run a piece of coat hanger down through the through wire hole and drag a pice of sheet metal (I really use an old lip) through the lip slot to be sure that nothing gets plugged up. It's not as messy at it sounds. I wear surgical gloves to keep my hands clean. The plus side is that your plugs become nearly bulletproof, and they are ready to prime in about 12 hours instead of days or weeks that are needed to dry after an oil bath soak.
I am now using West Systems with the 105 resin and the 207 specialty hardener. I like the way it mixes and the pumps on the containers make measuring idiotproof (and I need that
) Big Rock turned me onto the West Systems stuff. It's pricy to get started with it but it's worth it.
Professor M, You gotta ask Gary about that. I think he borrowed some of that "Slim Plug" of his from me. Not the other way around
I could be wrong though..Great minds think alike
Ours are similar, but mine is a little longer, and the front end is more rounded , and I use a pikie lip where Gary makes his own. Mine is kinda snakey on top where Gary's has a tighter swim. It's funny. He and I were just comparing the 2 plugs in my shop the other night. He made the mistake of leaving one of his blanks behind for me
I made some extras Paul and you're on the list.
OK Slip. You got it.. Super cool trick chameleon paint it is.
Patrick aka Digger